海角直播

A determined performance from David

David Beckett is clearly a determined student. At the age of 14 he was paralysed from the neck down in a diving accident. He then went on to pass 6 GCSEs, achieved during treatment in a spinal unit in Southport. David followed this by clinching four good 鈥楢鈥� levels at Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College in Darlington. Now, in 2003, David has graduated from the University of 海角直播 with a BSc (Hons) degree in Social Sciences (2.1 classification) and aims to enrol on a Masters degree.

David, 22, from Darlington, said: 鈥淢y advice to anyone in similar circumstances is don鈥檛 give up. There is help available and nothing is beyond you. I aim to take my academic studies as far as I can. I鈥檓 also a keen supporter of groups such as Amnesty International, War on Want, the Free Tibet campaign and CND as well as being very politically motivated.鈥� David has a team of care assistants who provide twenty-four hour care, bringing him through to the University and waiting outside lectures and seminars. Darlington Local Education Authority also funded, through the Disabled Students Allowance, a scribe to take lecture notes and a typist to word-process them and e-mail them to David.

David added: 鈥淢y father word-processed all my assignments and dissertation so is particularly aware of the work put in! I enjoyed working with him and discussing my assignments in detail as I was dictating and drafting out work.鈥�

The course鈥檚 mix of sociology, social policy and politics was popular with David. He said: 鈥淚 particularly enjoyed the modules 鈥楶ower and Inequality鈥� and 鈥楾hird World Development鈥�. I enjoyed the whole degree level study, lectures and seminars with their accompanying discussions and arguments - I鈥檝e always loved an argument!

鈥淢y parents, Kevin and Ruth, are delighted by my success and appreciate the work that has gone into it. They are impressed by the academic level I have reached and the support and the encouragement I received from my tutors. All of my lecturers were accessible, helpful and available and even acted as an amanuensis (a person employed to take dictation) for a second year exam!鈥�

David鈥檚 topical final-year dissertation explored elements of American foreign policy. He has now applied to study for a Masters degree.

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